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4-H summer campers discover how to “communicate through conflict”

Between 2001 and 2004, the American Camp Association conducted national research with over 5000 families from 80 ACA-Accredited camps to determine the outcomes of the camp experience as expressed by parents and children.

Parents, camp staff, and children reported significant growth in:

Self-esteem

Peer relationships

Independence

Adventure and exploration

Leadership

Environmental awareness

Friendship skills

Values and decisions

Social comfort

Spirituality

The findings from this national study indicate that camp is a unique educational institution and a positive force in youth development. The camp experience can benefit children by increasing:

Confidence and self-esteem

Social skills and making friends

Independence and leadership qualities

Willingness to try and adventurousness

Spiritual growth, especially at camps focused on spirituality.

No differences were found based on the camp type (day, resident) or session length. The full report is available and serves as reinforcement for the benefits of Michigan 4-H Camp Programs such as the one in Northeast Michigan.

Campers learned about communication by tossing balls to each other as a queue to speak, then realized the need to communicate more effectively as more balls were introduced with resulting group confusion. They also worked in teams to solve a “lost at sea” scenario; and discussed / practiced various concepts of working through conflict in teams.

Sixty campers completed the course. Comments about what they liked best included: “you get to work in a team”, “we all had to work together in order for the activities to work”, “the group activity of what objects would be more important in a shipwreck”.

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